It’s very easy to take things for granted. For example, when a person, belonging, or indie rock stars are always consistent and reliable.

At the PNE on Tuesday night, I was converted (again) by Arcade Fire. It’s not that I ever doubted their brilliance, but after recording three solidly amazing LP’s, it’s easy to think, “Yeah, Arcade Fire – they’re great, sure” with a voice that sounds like you’re saying you love your mom. Of course you love your mom. It’s a given. But when something is a given, it doesn’t necessarily mean you really feel it.

There’s no way to avoid really feelingArcade Fire‘s live performance. This band is seriously intense.

While other bands use the first couple of songs to warm up, Arcade Fire wastes no time with such nonsense.

With opener “Ready To Start”, they brought as much energy and intensity as some bands could only wish for after an hour’s warm-up: full-on sound, full-on vocals (all eight members of the band sing), banging on guitars, drums, keys, violins, accordions – the auditory and visual assault is BIG.

It’s not just intensity as in “loud”, it’s brought with smiles and sweat.

It is the sort of experience that gives you faith in humanity: if a multi-member band such as this can come together, collaborate, and share a love for music, performance and expression, and they can contribute equally (although it’s tough to deny that lead singer Win Butler is the literal centrepiece, both as band leader and most commanding performer), it’s exciting to imagine what we can accomplish in our lives.

After the show, I met Keith, the father of one of the violinists. As I was swooning about the performance, he commented, “Did you see Win after the second song? He looked like he had exhausted himself – did you see the way he needed to hang onto the mic stand?”